WASHINGTON — President Bush, in his final State of the Union speech, urged Congress to work with him to fight off a recession and show patience with the long war in Iraq. But Northwest Democrats said they were more focused on a change at the White House.

They said they would support a $150 billion economic stimulus plan, but were in little mood to cooperate on other issues Monday night.

“In Washington state and across our country, Americans are ready for real change,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. “Tonight we heard lofty rhetoric from the president, but I fear that we will see more of the same in his budget next week. It’s not enough for the president to talk about how much he cares in slogans and sound bites — he needs to produce a budget that proves it in black and white.”

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said Bush properly addressed Americans’ growing economic anxiety, but said the speech overall offered too little, too late.

“Despite our desperate need for policies that will help us address a brutal war in Iraq, a broken health care system and a warming planet, this president has ignored our nation’s most pressing issues and refused to cooperate,” Blumenauer said. “Under his leadership, earmarks exploded and the globe warmed, yet suddenly he wants to be named the earmark and energy reformer. This country doesn’t have time, money or patience for more empty, partisan promises. I look forward to having a more willing partner in the White House in less than a year’s time.”

Blumenauer was referring to Bush’s pledge to veto any spending bill that does not cut in half the number and cost of congressional pet projects, known as earmarks.

Bush also renewed his call to work with other major countries toward an international agreement on climate change and said the buildup of 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, along with an increase in Iraqi forces, has achieved great results.

Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., said Americans wanted to hear how the president would change course in Iraq and hold Iraqis responsible for their own country’s progress.

“Our soldiers in Iraq cannot continue to remain without a final strategy for victory,” she said. “They deserve a plan based on clear and concrete goals. It’s time for the Iraqis and their government to take full responsibility for their own security. And to this end, the administration owes the American people an honest accounting of Iraq’s security capabilities.”

But Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, said Congress should listen to Bush’s plea to work together in a bipartisan fashion.

“The economy does need help. I agree with the president and believe the best way we can start to achieve this goal is to make his tax cuts permanent,” Simpson said. “If Congress does not act, over 116 million Americans will start paying on average of $1,800 more in annual taxes. The best way to stimulate the economy is to allow individuals to keep more of their hard-earned money.”

Congress also should reduce the number and expense of earmarks, Simpson said, as well as reduce the growth of entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

“Much needs to be done and it is not in the best interest of the country to continue this endless bickering. It will be difficult during a presidential election year, but I’m hopeful that leadership (in both parties) will work with the president on issues facing our nation,” Simpson said.

Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., sounded a similar note.

“Now more than ever Congress must keep its focus on issues impacting most Americans — access to health care, the housing crisis, the family budget, a sputtering economy,” said Smith, who is up for re-election this year. “Working together to find consensus is how we will tackle these challenges.”

Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley, one of two Democrats hoping to oppose Smith this fall, said the wages of the average American family are lower than they were when Bush took office seven years ago, while such an average family’s debt is higher and fewer have health insurance.

“Now they are experiencing the ravages of mass foreclosures — the result of too little scrutiny and too few protections in the mortgage industry,” Merkley said.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said the economic stimulus plan should include extension of $20 billion in tax incentives for clean energy.

“If we want to get beyond petroleum, we have to stop subsidizing it. We have to level the playing field by taking away embedded subsidies for mature and profitable industries and (by) lending a hand to emerging new alternative technologies, and provide competition in the marketplace,” Cantwell said.

Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., said he wished Bush had called on the nation to invest in transportation infrastructure and energy conservation. He said Bush “should have shown bold leadership by calling on all Americans to cut their energy consumption and carbon generation by 20 percent in 20 weeks. That would immediately put money into people’s pockets through savings on energy, and it would have promptly cut energy prices. It would also have shown the world that we are truly serious and willing to take the lead on stopping climate change and ocean acidification.”

But Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho, applauded Bush for highlighting the need to cut taxes and return fiscal discipline to the capital.

“President Bush is right on when he says the people’s trust in their government has been undermined by the abuse of congressional earmarks ... partisan bickering, out of control spending, programs that don’t work, taxes that are too high and the failure to act on important matters like immigration reform,” Sali said.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said structural problems in the economy need more than just a quick fix.

“In the final year of this administration, the president should work with Congress in a bipartisan way to find solutions for these and other problems Americans face,” Smith said.